PN says police have enough proof to investigate Gozo minister

The nationalist party today insisted that the media reports which its media published in recent weeks on alleged irregularities involving Gozo minister Anton Refalo provided the police with enough proof to take action.

Asked whether the nationalist party will file any police reports over the alleged irregularities, PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami today said that the PN media and MaltaToday have published addresses and photos of alleged works-for-votes in Gozo which should be more than enough proof for the police to open investigations.

Following reports of the misappropriation of funds by the husband of former PN Gozo minister Giovanna Debono, starting with a report on 29th March on Malta Today, the opposition published a series of reports alleging to the current Gozo minister Anton Refalo’s involvment in similar activities.

Fenech Adami said that the police commissioner should assure the public that investigations into the alleged illegalities were actually taking place and that the evidence was not merely being left in possession of those it implicates.

Fenech Adami listed the alleged irregularities and said that the more revelations made, the higher the pressure being put on the minister.

The irregularities include embellishments of a restaurant in Marsalforn,  works in private fields in the limits of Ghasri, embellishment works at private properties in Triq il- Horg, Kercem and Wied tal-Ghezien, Xaghra, works at the property of Refalo’s canvasser in Ghajnsielem, works at a farmhouse in Munxar, works at two garages in Rabat (Triq San Duminku), works in a number of private garages in San Lawrenz, as well as the construction of a private road in fields in Nadur, near triq ir- Rabat.

“The minister himself has free, unlimited access to any documentation, evidence and proof which could prove crucial to the investigation of these serious allegations,” Fenech Adami said adding that Prime Miniser Joseph Muscat also had the political responsibility to ensure that police investigations are not hindered or prejudiced.

“Despite all the serious allegations made about Anton Refalo, he continues to carry out his duties as though nothing happened and he is one of the few people who has access to the necessary proof,” he added.

Fenech Adami urged the police to state whether or not it was indeed investigating the case in question and whether it had collected the evidence before any meddling had occurred.

“Muscat should not continue to defend Refalo, especially since these serious allegations could even lead to criminal procedures,” he said referring to the fact that the Labour government has so far refuted the claims and called on the PN to file a police report.

Fenech Adami said that if the police would not open an investigation it would not be deterred from uncovering irregularities.

Following a series of reports in MaltaToday, Anthony Debono was accused of having misappropriated over €5,000 in public funds by virtue of his employment; of having profited, to the tune of over €5,000, from public monies and private contractors; used his official capacity as a civil servant, to his own private advantage, in dereliction of his public duty; rendered himself an accomplice in the falsification of public documents for the issuing of payments and goods; and abused of his public role and of public acts entrusted to him.

Following the arraignment of her husband Anthony, Debono has resigned from the PN but not from parliament. Her husband was last week granted bail after being charged with the misappropriation of public funds while his wife was Gozo minister.

Government calls accusations 'yet another hasty and weak accusation' to divert attention from alleged misappropriation of funds under the PN legislation

Reacting to the opposition’s press conference on the subject, the government said that this was another hasty and weak attempt to divert attention from the misappropriation of public funds under the Nationalist government some years ago.

Referring to the case that saw former Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono’s husband arraigned in court over the alleged use of public funds for private works, the government added that the attempt had backfired, as the opposition had inadvertently ended up attacking PN secretary general Chris Said.

“Fenech Adami attacked the government for handing over seven metres of concrete for work on a road in publicly owned fields near Triq ir- Rabat in Nadur, to be used by farmers entering publicly owned fields,” the government statement read.

According to the government, a declaration made by the farmers of the zone showed that the road had been built by the Nadur local council in 2012 when it was headed by Said. It added that the road had merely been repaired by the government.

“As it had already declared when the Debono scandal was revealed, the government has no problems with police investigations of the works carried out under the current administration,” the statement continues adding that it would provide all the necessary documents and information in order to exert justice as required.

“With his words today, Fenech Adami attacked Chris Said. Meanwhile the leader of the opposition refuses to remember what the whistleblower said to him, and what he said himself during the notorious meeting where Busuttil had the details of the scandal in his possession and refused to take the necessary steps.”

In response to the government’s reaction, PN said that Refalo seemed to be feeling the pressure of their accusations as he chose to answer a newspaper report about the government materials used in the works in Nadur, which marks the eighth case of its kind reported in the last two years.

“It seems strange that Refalo has chosen to respond to just one of the eight cases mentioned, but he still has a lot to answer for,” the PN said, adding that it is high time for Muscat to take action against Refalo.